It is not because we have renounced any article of the catholic faith. We are not heretics. We cordially receive all the doctrines contained in that Symbol which is known as the Apostles’ Creed. We regard all doctrinal decisions of the first six ecumenical councils to be consistent with the Word of God, and because of that consistency, we receive them as expressing our faith. We therefore believe the doctrine of the Trinity and of the person of Christ as those doctrines are expressed in the symbols adopted by the Council of Nicea AD321, that of the Council of Constantinople AD381 and more fully that of the Council of Chalcedon AD451. Continue reading →
Author Archives: R. Scott Clark
The Problem of Friendly Fire
some of the most acute and chronic relational hurts Christians experience is within the believing community. Continue reading →
When the Coin Coffer Clinks, the Cost of Bandwidth Shrinks
Cheesy yes, but you won’t forget it will you? The HB is self-hosted but you can help the HB defray the cost of renting space on the computer and of bandwidth (the cost of accessing a web page). There are no ads on . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Dennis Johnson on Hebrews 1-2
Dennis Johnson picks up where Steve Baugh left off in our discussion of the book of Hebrews. This episode features Dr. Dennis Johnson, Professor of Practical Theology, who begins where Steve Baugh and I left off. Dennis is Professor of Practical Theology . . . Continue reading →
Central Valley Conference on Reformed Theology Nov 2-3 2012
Join Bob Godfrey and me for the Central Valley Conference on Reformed Theology, November 2-3, at Zion URC in Ripon, California. Things kick off Friday evening at 7:30PM. Bob Godfrey will answer the question: Is the Reformation Over? He says “Yes!” On . . . Continue reading →
The Impetrative Offer of the Gospel in Isaiah 55
“‘Come to me a you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest’ or ‘I will be your rest.’ How good are we at pleading with people? Do people get the impression from us not only that there is a feast but that God wants them there and that you want them there?” Continue reading →
The Power of Faith: 450 Years of the Heidelberg Catechism
In 2013 the Heidelberg Catechism will be 450 years old. To mark this event Karla Apperloo-Boersma and Herman Selderhuis have edited a new volume (hardcover, 440 pages) on the catechism. According to Amazon it’s $56.00 (HT: Michael A. G. Haykin). Thus begins the . . . Continue reading →
Trans-Confessional Catechism?
The main concern is that TGC comprises folk who do not confess the same understanding of the church and sacraments. Continue reading →
What Hebrews Means to Me
Just finished recording another session with Steve Baugh on Hebrews. This episode covered Hebrews 7:18–28. This is the fourth season and we’re approaching our 100th episode. In that time we’ve discussed many things, including a lot of Scripture, but this is the . . . Continue reading →
Why the “Nones” Are Growing
USA Today has a story on recent Pew Forum survey that shows that 48% of Americans are “Protestant,” 22% Roman, and 20% are slotted under “none,” and 6% under “other” (the greater share of which one guesses is Islam, which is gaining . . . Continue reading →
Free E-Book: John Preston on the Fullness of Christ
John Preston (1587–1628) was a Reformed English theologian and preacher. He was dean of Queens College, Cambridge, master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, regular preacher at Lincoln’s Inn, and chaplain to the King. His Wikipedia entry seems accurate enough. James T. O’Brien has . . . Continue reading →
Deliver Me From the Wild Dogs
Michael Kearney writes: “The vivid image of howling, prowling dogs, occurring not once but twice in Psalm 59, is completely omitted from the text, as are the references to the “swords in their lips” (v. 7) and “the sin of their mouths” (v. 12).” Continue reading →
Semi-Pelagianism and Faith as the Instrument of Existential-Mystical Union with Christ (5)
Part 4. In part 4 we saw that William Perkins taught that believers are given new life by the Spirit and by the same Spirit given faith and through that faith united to Christ. It is particularly useful to be aware of . . . Continue reading →
Neo-Baalism: Experience-Driven Worship
James Oord summarizes a provocative passage from Eugene Peterson about worship: Peterson points out that experience-driven worship was the hallmark of Baalism, the religion of the Canaanites in the Old Testament era. Their entire worship structure was focused on catering to emotions. . . . Continue reading →
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It’s easy to subscribe to the HB. Click on the RSS image to the left or the one on the right. You can read the HB in your RSS reader via your web browser (or if you use a Mac you can . . . Continue reading →
The Chart
THE CHART Period Time Dominant Question(s) Significance Christian Antiquity Ascension to 1650 (Old World) What has God said? Locus of authority is extrinsic Modernity 1650-1914 (Old World) 1789-1968 (New World) Has God said? Locus of authority is intrinsic (via rationalism, empiricism or . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Steve Baugh on Hebrews 1
The theme for Season 4 of Office Hours is “Hebrews: Jesus is Really Better.” Steve is Professor of NT at Westminster Seminary California. He teaches our course on Hebrews and has been studying it for about 30 years. You can hear episode . . . Continue reading →
Bibliography Software for OS 10.7.4
I admit it. I’m a huge fan of the Chicago Manual of Style. I started paying attention with CMS 14 and have bought successive editions through CMS 16. In my field most things need to conform to CMS 15 or 16. So, . . . Continue reading →
Puritans, Slavery, and Criticizing Heroes
Thabiti Anyabwile has a stimulating and thoughtful post about a controversy that, except for the interwebs, I would have missed altogether. It apparently arose over a rap song. Hence my ignorance. Now, if was Al Green, Booker T. and the MGs, or . . . Continue reading →
Perhaps Academic Standards Have Fallen Since 1941-42?
Alan Jacobs posted this copy of W. H. Auden’s undergraduate lit survey at 95 Theses. at the University of Michigan from the academic year 1941–42. Was it extraordinary then? It would certainly be considered so now and perhaps even grounds for censure . . . Continue reading →